What You Will Achieve During This Task

You will learn the basics of pitch - what it is, common terms associated with it, as well as various historical and technical aspects of pitch.

How To Complete This Task

Answer the following questions (a to k) (individually or as a group) as thoroughly as possible. Your group may use any reliable sources of information, such as books or the suggested (or similar) websites. All sources must be noted in your answers. You may wish to research and prepare all the answers before filling in the answers on this page. Email your answers to your teacher by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page.

How You Will Be Assessed On This Task

The emailed answers will be assessed for accuracy, thoroughness, grammar and spelling, layout, and the reliabilty of the sources used to prepare your group's answers. Your group can gain extra knowledge (and points) by also completing the optional "Extension" questions.


Details

Your class:

Your (or your group's) name:

Group members and their job titles (optional):

Teacher's email address that your answers will be sent to for marking:

Your email address that your teacher will email your marked answers back to:

When you (or your group) has finished, click the "Email your Pitch Task 1 answers to your teacher" button at the bottom of the page to send your answers to your teacher for marking.


Task Questions and Activities

a) Define "pitch" in a musical context. Provide two definitions:
    - one from a respected and authoritative music reference (preferably non-Internet sourced);
    - one that you define as a group.


b) Pitch can be comparatively and .


c) Pitch can move .


d) An example of indefinite pitch is .


e) An example of definite pitch is .


f) Melody can be defined as .


Extension: Give a brief explanation or definition of the other terms in the preceding list.

g) Harmony can be defined as .


Extension: Give a brief explanation or definition of the other terms in the preceding list.

h) Tonality can be defined as .


Extension: Give a brief explanation or definition of the other terms in the preceding list.

i) The pitch of a musical note can be represented in many different ways.
Describe how a musician would represent on paper the middle C on a piano?


Extension: List six other ways of representing on paper the middle C on a piano.
(Visit http://www.flexatone.net/athenaAUpc.html which is a page that contains an online pitch converter
that enables you to see what, for example, MIDI 60 is in lots of different representations.)

j) The international standard pitch for the A above middle C on a piano is . (Visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_(music)#Historical_pitch_standards for a brief discussion of pitch standards.)


Extension: List 4 other pitches for A that were used by famous musicians and institutions in the past.

k) There are several ways that notes in a scale (in Western music) can be tuned in relation to each other. Which tuning system is used to "tune" a modern piano? (Visit http://cnx.rice.edu/content/m11639/latest/ for a discussion of tuning systems.)


Extension: When and where were the other tuning systems in the preceding list in use?

For general interest visit http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/Hbase/sound/soucon.html#soucon




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